There's Yard Sale on Antarctica Street!!

Posted Wednesday, August 31, 2011, at 12:07 AM

Aunt Lois two years ago.

Most people wouldn't travel over 1,000 miles just to go to yard sales. But I was visiting my Aunt and Uncle at the beginning of August and this is what they do on their Fridays and Saturdays in the Spring and Summer.

My aunt and uncle take the yard sale adventure very seriously. They like to be "Early Birds". So, on that Friday, we all got up at 5:00 a.m.

We piled into their Cadillac and began our search for the perfect deal. Aunt Lois was in the back seat with Mom and I was in the front with Uncle Leon. Aunt Lois was armed with a map and a detailed itinerary for our morning.

The First Sale was in CDA on the outskirts of town by the golf course. Having a map should have made this first sale easy to find, but Aunt Lois had it in her mind that the street name was Antarctica instead of Atlantic.

We backtracked a couple times before my Aunt realized that it was Atlantic St instead of Antarctica. At this point, I was using my smart phone to find a map and driving directions

Two of the four people in the car were hard of hearing and it wasn't me or my mother. They had a state- of -the-art GPS System, but no one knew how to use it. At one point, Aunt Lois was yelling at Uncle Leon, you have gone too far, but in reality, we hadn't come far enough.

We finally found our first sale of the day and darn it!, we missed being "Early Birds, by 15 minutes.

My mother tried to make Aunt Lois adhere to a couple social rules about yard sale finds. For example, "I let you have those two yard frogs ornaments; but if you see something that I want, you have to give it to me, those are the rules" Aunt Lois wasn't about to be dictated to by her younger sister on her own turf; so Mom had to claim her own "bargains."

A homeowner at one sale, recognized a veteran bargain hunter and proceeded to charm Aunt Lois with flattering words. She was about to turn 80 the next day but he told her she could pass for 60 any time. Needless to say this helped out his sales considerably and it didn't hurt my Aunt Lois's feelings either.

By 11:30 a.m., we were done. The last stop was a home with as many books as the public library. They were thoughtfully arranged by genre and author so that shoppers could find their "bargains".

Aunt Lois was not deterred by the sheer number of selections that this sale offered. She had a folder with her favorite authors listed in alphabetical order. To avoid duplication, she also had copies of the introductions to each book that she had read.

On Saturday Morning, I opted to sleep in a little bit while they eagerly went out to find more "bargains.

My mother was under strict orders from my sister Bev to keep things small and simple. There had been long trips home with hardly a place to sit because Mom couldn't pass up a bargain or two. As it was, she ended up with a huge stuffed sheep dog that she couldn't resist; some books, picture frames and a couple nice pictures and a Goose Cookie Jar for her kitchen.

As for myself, I ended up having to buy a bigger suitcase to carry back all of my "finds". I was able to give each grandchild a "goodie" bag of treasures from Idaho.

The entire purpose for the visit was celebrating my Aunt Lois's 80th Birthday. Our adventures were not limited to yard sales. We also got pedicures.

It was our understanding that an appointment had been made for just two of us with an establishment in Post Falls. They didn't have an opening for three women, so Mom opted to not have one so that Aunt Lois could get her first pedicure for her birthday.

Unfortunately, a few crucial details got a little mixed up and we were on the wrong side of the street from where our appointment was scheduled.

At noon, we trooped into a nail salon, and Mom announced that we had appointments. The girl there looked a little puzzled, but told us to take a seat. We only had to wait a couple minutes before she invited us back to choose our nail color. Still thinking that we only had two appointments, we were happy to discover that she could accommodate all of us at once. It seemed a little strange, but we decided it was our lucky day.

We were enjoying a nice soothing foot soak and a lovely massage from the comfortable chair when Aunt Lois's cell phone rang, it was Carmen, Lois's daughter-in-law, "The spa just called, Where are you?

Apparently, we were at the wrong place. Aunt Lois told Carmen, "It is too late now, we already have our feet in the water!"

So Aunt Lois is the proud owner of lime green toenails, mine are hot pink and Mom has a wonderful shade of burgundy.

Happy Sigh! It is the scenic route in life that always makes the best memories to look back upon. I love my aunt and uncle dearly and I am sure that they could out yard-sale me any day of the week. I wonder what they would think about the city-wide sales that we have here in Missouri?

From what you have shared about them, they would be in heaven. Just make sure they bring a semi with them to take their treasures home.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Wed, Aug 31, 2011, at 5:47 AM

it is pretty fun to go with them places, they keep things interesting.

If anyone else has read this blog and you don't want to comment on it, just leave a ? mark so that I know that it is being read by someone.

Miss Kitty-Lover did you disappear? I am posting more cheerful stories or do you only come out to pounce on the mice?

-- Posted by KH Gal on Thu, Sep 1, 2011, at 8:45 AM

I read it just didn't get around to leaving a comment. My head has been preoccupied with the death of my friend.....

Sounds like you had fun yard sailing with your Aunt. We go to junk stores once a week... It's away to get out look at the stuff people don't want anymore and to run into friends that you haven't seen in a long time.

Sometimes we find some really good stuff.... Years ago I found a set of Pillsbury Dough boy bowls which were worth a little money..

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Thu, Sep 1, 2011, at 8:57 AM

It is very hard to lose a friend. They are one of the best resources that we have.

I was thinking about Susan yesterday and my sister-in-law whose birthday is today. I imagine that they are enjoying their new life and I don't blame them.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Thu, Sep 1, 2011, at 9:12 AM

I bet it being read more than you think, some just never post comments and others like me read them and really don't have much to say and don't want to say the same thing everytime. Keep on writing.

-- Posted by Eagle_eye on Thu, Sep 1, 2011, at 10:18 AM

You too.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Thu, Sep 1, 2011, at 10:22 AM

Thats why I asked for a question mark or some other symbol. Don't have to comment, just let me know that it is being read.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Thu, Sep 1, 2011, at 10:39 AM

I just got back from the viewing it was only for family, however her family treats me as though I am their family member. She looked beautiful...

This is so hard !

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Thu, Sep 1, 2011, at 10:44 AM

MSM: it is hard. What blessing that her family is including you into their inner circle of grief.

Is she at Jerry Rost's? He was so nice to our family when Dad died.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Thu, Sep 1, 2011, at 11:12 AM

Yes she is there. Jerry and his wife are very compassionate and caring people....

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Thu, Sep 1, 2011, at 11:15 AM

Bonnie" remember when I wanted to quit cause I didn't think people were reading or even cared. I put together a part of those comments that was left for me, not telling ya what to do just a reminder what came my way.

I have always liked your recipes. Please forgive me if I didn't comment on them. I think that you contribute a great service to the blogger space.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Sat, Jun 4, 2011, at 7:59 PM

I think it's probably safe to say that for every person who COMMENTS on a particular blog, there are 15 or 20 who just read them.

Posted by bazookaman on Sat, Jun 4, 2011, at 8:22 PM

Joe don't give up, if you enjoy blogging then keep it going. Sometimes you will get comments and sometimes maybe not, but what is most important is you enjoy posting your recipes.

Posted by MsMarylin on Sat, Jun 4, 2011, at 9:50 PM

I'm glad your not going to give up.... If you enjoy doing it then keep it going. :)

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Sun, Jun 5, 2011, at 2:08 PM

Me too. You inspired me last night to write a blog and for that I am grateful.

We all need to showcase the talents and observations that we have. I have appreciated all of the comments made on my blogs and I resolve to at least say that I read them.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Sun, Jun 5, 2011, at 5:15 PM

-- Posted by Eagle_eye on Thu, Sep 1, 2011, at 11:22 AM

I've read and enjoyed all you have written, but I don't say much as I'm always busy. I especially like the comment above to Kitty.

-- Posted by arsenal on Thu, Sep 1, 2011, at 11:52 AM

Well thank you everyone, obviously I needed a little boost today. We should all be supportive of each other's talents.

Fixing fence is the one of the hardest jobs on a ranch. I no longer live on a ranch, but I do know what hard work is. Fences are everyone's concern, but nowadays,the "hole" is always your neighbor's side not your own. It used to be that you would respect your neighbor and mend the fence together. If their cows got in your field, a simple phone call resolved the problem. You might even saddle up your own horse and help them gather them up. We need more people who are willing to roll their sleeves up and fix the fence regardless of who your neighbor is.
There are people in this country who need to be reminded that a fence is like the way you should conduct your life. Your posts should be straight and neat. The wire needs to be stretched tight and your gate might be closed, but can still be easily opened. And most of all, we can all saddle
up together and ride the range, it won't matter if you have an Appaloosa, Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred. The cows still have to be gathered, fences have to be fixed, and the range is a wide open space of opportunity for us all.